- Patent Number:
12091,140
- Appl. No:
17/613714
- Application Filed:
June 01, 2020
- نبذة مختصرة :
Methods for the maintenance of a marine structure having a wind turbine and at least one essentially vertical shaft are described. The methods include the use of an auxiliary floating system having: at least one floating element that remains semisubmerged throughout the process of maintaining the marine structure; at least one coupling structure that connects the system to the floating structure; and contact elements and tightening elements, wherein the contact and tightening elements are secured to the coupling structure and are intended to solidly connect the system to the shaft. Advantageously, this solid connection allows operations for the maintenance of the marine structure to be carried out in a manner that is efficient and safe for maintenance workers and for the systems involved in the operations.
- Inventors:
ESTEYCO S.A. (Madrid, ES)
- Assignees:
ESTEYCO S.A. (Madrid, ES)
- Claim:
1. A method for the maintenance of a wind turbine supported on a marine structure, which can be floating or secured on the seabed, and comprising a shaft and/or a foundation, the method comprising use of an auxiliary floating system comprising: one or more floating elements; at least one crane located on at least one of said floating elements; at least one work area for the storage and/or repair of components of the wind turbine and/or the marine structure; and at least one coupling structure for coupling to the marine structure, wherein said coupling structure comprises: an articulated closure ring suitable for being closed surrounding an element of the marine structure; a plurality of contact elements between the coupling structure and the marine structure; and one or more tightening elements which allow the position of the contact elements to be regulated, said tightening elements being suitable for exerting a tightening force in a substantially horizontal direction, through the contact elements, on the marine structure, and wherein the coupling structure can adopt at least three configurations: an open configuration, in which the closure ring is open; a closed configuration, in which the closure ring is closed; and a tightened configuration, in which the closure ring is closed, and the tightening elements are arranged exerting a tightening force on the marine structure; and said method further comprising performing the following steps, in any order that is technically possible: a) transporting the auxiliary floating system afloat to the location of the marine structure; b) approximating the auxiliary floating system to the marine structure, with the coupling structure in the open configuration; c) arranging the coupling structure in the closed configuration, such that the closure ring completely surrounds an element of the marine structure; d) acting in a controlled manner on the tightening elements, so as to arrange the coupling structure in the tightened configuration, such that the marine structure and the auxiliary floating system come to be solidly connected in six degrees of freedom of movement, said degrees of freedom comprising heave, surge, sway, yaw, pitch, and roll; e) using the crane to perform maintenance tasks on the wind turbine and/or on the marine structure; f) using the work area of the auxiliary floating system for storing and/or repairing components of the wind turbine and/or of the marine structure; and g) uncoupling the auxiliary floating system from the marine structure, and arranging the coupling structure in the open configuration.
- Claim:
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary floating system comprises a plurality of floating elements connected to one another and/or to the coupling structure.
- Claim:
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary floating system comprises a single floating element in the form of a barge, and in which both the crane and the work area are arranged, and wherein said barge is formed by a single body or by the attachment of several modules that are connected to one another.
- Claim:
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the crane is a telescopic and/or folding crane, and wherein said crane is deployed after step d) and folded up again before step g).
- Claim:
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the work area is located at least in part at a distance from the crane that is greater than the minimum radius of action of said crane.
- Claim:
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the work area is at least in part free with respect to the floating elements, such that at least part of the area of the work area is not located on the deck of a floating element.
- Claim:
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein step a) and/or step b) are performed by towing the auxiliary floating system, or by self-propelled transport of said system.
- Claim:
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the floating elements comprise hydrodynamic damping plates.
- Claim:
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the floating elements are ballasted in a central or eccentric manner.
- Claim:
10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising, after step d), j) ballasting at least one floating element to offset a rise in tide and/or unballasting at least one floating element to offset a lowering of the tide.
- Claim:
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the freeboard of the auxiliary floating system is compatible with the tidal range, such that, while the auxiliary floating system remains coupled to a secured marine structure, the variation of the tide never reduces the freeboard to less than 10 cm.
- Claim:
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary floating system is equipped with one or more approximation or securing cables between said system and the marine structure, and wherein the length of said cables is regulated during step b) of approximation.
- Claim:
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the closure ring holds an inner space sufficient for the coupling thereof to a region of the marine structure comprising a boat landing structure.
- Claim:
14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the tightening elements comprise: a lever secured at an articulation point with respect to which it can rotate; a contact element connected to a point of said lever; and an extendable and/or folding hydraulic cylinder connected to another point of said lever, and wherein by actuating the hydraulic cylinder to extend and/or fold it, said lever is caused to rotate, and the position and/or force exerted by said contact element is thereby regulated.
- Claim:
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the distance between the line of action of the hydraulic cylinder and the articulation point is greater than the distance between the line of action of the contact element and the articulation point, such that by the lever effect, a force F in the hydraulic cylinder generates a force F′ in the contact element that is greater than F.
- Claim:
16. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising, before step c), k) applying reinforcement means in the element of the marine structure to which the coupling structure is coupled, such that the marine structure is able to withstand the forces that the auxiliary floating system can introduce in the marine structure, through the contact elements.
- Claim:
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the marine structure is a monopile structure and the reinforcement means comprise a complete or partial filling of the interior of the monopile with concrete.
- Claim:
18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary floating system comprises: means for controlling and/or monitoring the tightening force and/or the position of the tightening elements; and/or means for opening and closing the closure ring.
- Claim:
19. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary floating system comprises a combination of active tightening elements and passive elements.
- Claim:
20. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the contact elements comprise support plates contacting the marine structure and the friction coefficient of which is greater than 3%, such that upon tightening the contact elements against the marine structure, friction forces which contribute to generating a solid coupling between the marine structure and the auxiliary floating system are generated.
- Claim:
21. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the closure ring comprises guards positioned such that, during steps b) and or c), the guards contact the marine structure before the contact elements do.
- Claim:
22. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the crane is a mobile land crane with caterpillars or wheels, which is supported on at least one floating element.
- Claim:
23. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the crane is a mobile land crane comprising: an upper body comprising at least one boom, counterweights, and the equipment for actuating the crane; and a lower body comprising means for moving the crane by means of wheels and/or caterpillars, and wherein the auxiliary floating system only comprises said upper body of the crane.
- Patent References Cited:
20090217852 September 2009 Zaman et al.
20130152840 June 2013 Awashima et al.
102730552 October 2012
2327874 June 2011
2905217 August 2015
2642177 November 2017
WO-2006053254 May 2006
- Primary Examiner:
Avila, Stephen P
- Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Hayes Soloway P.C.
- الرقم المعرف:
edspgr.12091140
Processing Request
No Comments.